the mad king-第30部分

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For　the　barest　fraction　of　an　instant　he　hesitated；　and　then　his　quick　American　wits　came　to　his　aid。　　Feigning　intoxication　he　answered　the　challenge　in　dubious　Austrian　that　he　hoped　his　maudlin　tongue　would　excuse。

〃Friend；〃　he　answered　thickly。　　〃Friend　with　a　drink　have　one？〃　　And　he　staggered　drunkenly　forward；　banking　all　upon　the　credulity　and　thirst　of　the　soldier　who　con…　fronted　him　with　fixed　bayonet。

That　the　sentry　was　both　credulous　and　thirsty　was　evi…　denced　by　the　fact　that　he　let　Barney　come　within　reach　of　his　gun。　　Instantly　the　drunken　Austrian　was　transformed　into　a　very　sober　and　active　engine　of　destruction。　　Seizing　the　barrel　of　the　piece　Barney　jerked　it　to　one　side　and　toward　him；　and　at　the　same　instant　he　leaped　for　the　throat　of　the　sentry。

So　quickly　was　this　accomplished　that　the　Austrian　had　time　only　for　a　single　cry；　and　that　was　choked　in　his　wind…　pipe　by　the　steel　fingers　of　the　American。　　Together　both　men　fell　heavily　to　the　ground；　Barney　retaining　his　hold　upon　the　other's　throat。

Striking　and　clutching　at　one　another　they　fought　in　silence　for　a　couple　of　minutes；　then　the　soldier's　struggles　began　to　weaken。　　He　squirmed　and　gasped　for　breath。　　His　mouth　opened　and　his　tongue　protruded。　　His　eyes　started　from　their　sockets。　　Barney　closed　his　fingers　more　tightly　upon　the　bearded　throat。　　He　rained　heavy　blows　upon　the　upturned　face。　　The　beating　fists　of　his　adversary　waved　wildly　nowthe　blows　that　reached　Barney　were　pitifully　weak。　　Presently　they　ceased。　　The　man　struggled　violently　for　an　instant；　twitched　spasmodically　and　lay　still。

Barney　clung　to　him　for　several　minutes　longer；　until　there　was　not　the　slightest　indication　of　remaining　life。　　The　perpetration　of　the　deed　sickened　him；　but　he　knew　that　his　act　was　warranted；　for　it　had　been　either　his　life　or　the　other's。　　He　dragged　the　body　back　to　the　bushes　in　which　he　had　been　hiding。　　There　he　stripped　off　the　Austrian　uniform；　put　his　own　clothes　upon　the　corpse　and　rolled　it　into　the　river。

Dressed　as　an　Austrian　private；　Barney　Custer　shouldered　the　dead　soldier's　gun　and　walked　boldly　through　the　wood　to　the　south。　　Momentarily　he　expected　to　run　upon　other　soldiers；　but　though　he　kept　straight　on　his　way　for　hours　he　encountered　none。　　The　thin　line　of　sentries　along　the　river　had　been　posted　only　to　double　the　preventive　measures　that　had　been　taken　to　keep　Serbian　spies　either　from　enter…　ing　or　leaving　the　city。

Toward　dawn；　at　the　darkest　period　of　the　night；　Barney　saw　lights　ahead　of　him。　　Apparently　he　was　approaching　a　village。　　He　went　more　cautiously　now；　but　all　his　care　did　not　prevent　him　from　running　for　the　second　time　that　night　almost　into　the　arms　of　a　sentry。　　This　time；　however；　Barney　saw　the　soldier　before　he　himself　was　discovered。　　It　was　upon　the　edge　of　the　town；　in　an　orchard；　that　the　sentinel　was　posted。　　Barney；　approaching　through　the　trees；　darting　from　one　to　another；　was　within　a　few　paces　of　the　man　be…　fore　he　saw　him。

The　American　remained　quietly　in　the　shadow　of　a　tree　waiting　for　an　opportunity　to　escape；　but　before　it　came　he　heard　the　approach　of　a　small　body　of　troops。　　They　were　coming　from　the　village　directly　toward　the　orchard。　　They　passed　the　sentry　and　marched　within　a　dozen　feet　of　the　tree　behind　which　Barney　was　hiding。

As　they　came　opposite　him　he　slipped　around　the　tree　to　the　opposite　side。　　The　sentry　had　resumed　his　pacing；　and　was　now　out　of　sight　momentarily　among　the　trees　further　on。　　He　could　not　see　the　American；　but　there　were　others　who　could。　　They　came　in　the　shape　of　a　non…commissioned　officer　and　a　detachment　of　the　guard　to　relieve　the　sentry。　Barney　almost　bumped　into　them　as　he　rounded　the　tree。　There　was　no　escapethe　non…commissioned　officer　was　within　two　feet　of　him　when　Barney　discovered　him。　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　shouted　the　sergeant　with　an　oath。　〃Your　post　is　there；〃　and　he　pointed　toward　the　position　where　Barney　had　seen　the　sentry。

At　first　Barney　could　scarce　believe　his　ears。　　In　the　dark…　ness　the　sergeant　had　mistaken　him　for　the　sentinel！　　Could　he　carry　it　out？　　And　if　so　might　it　not　lead　him　into　worse　predicament？　　No；　Barney　decided；　nothing　could　be　worse。　To　be　caught　masquerading　in　the　uniform　of　an　Austrian　soldier　within　the　Austrian　lines　was　to　plumb　the　utter…　most　depth　of　guiltnothing　that　he　might　do　now　could　make　his　position　worse。

He　faced　the　sergeant；　snapping　his　piece　to　present；　hop…　ing　that　this　was　the　proper　thing　to　do。　　Then　he　stumbled　through　a　brief　excuse。　　The　officer　in　command　of　the　troops　that　had　just　passed　had　demanded　the　way　of　him；　and　he　had　but　stepped　a　few　paces　from　his　post　to　point　out　the　road　to　his　superior。

The　sergeant　grunted　and　ordered　him　to　fall　in。　　Another　man　took　his　place　on　duty。　　They　were　far　from　the　enemy　and　discipline　was　lax；　so　the　thing　was　accomplished　which　under　other　circumstances　would　have　been　well　night　im…　possible。　　A　moment　later　Barney　found　himself　marching　back　toward　the　village；　to　all　intents　and　purposes　an　Aus…　trian　private。

Before　a　low；　windowless　shed　that　had　been　converted　into　barracks　for　the　guard；　the　detail　was　dismissed。　　The　men　broke　ranks　and　sought　their　blankets　within　the　shed；　tired　from　their　lonely　vigil　upon　sentry　duty。

Barney　loitered　until　the　last。　　All　the　others　had　entered。　He　dared　not；　for　he　knew　that　any　moment　the　sentry　upon　the　post　from　which　he　had　been　taken　would　appear　upon　the　scene；　after　discovering　another　of　his　comrades。　He　was　certain　to　inquire　of　the　sergeant。　　They　would　be　puzzled；　of　course；　and；　being　soldiers；　they　would　be　suspicious。　　There　would　be　an　investigation；　which　would　start　in　the　barracks　of　the　guard。　　That　neighborhood　would　at　once　become　a　most　unhealthy　spot　for　Barney　Custer；　of　Beatrice；　Nebraska。

When　the　last　of　the　soldiers　had　entered　the　shed　Bar…　ney　glanced　quickly　about。　　No　one　appeared　to　notice　him。　He　walked　directly　past　the　doorway　to　the　end　of　the　building。　　Around　this　he　found　a　yard；　deeply　shadowed。　He　entered　it；　crossed　it；　and　passed　out　into　an　alley　be…　yond。　　At　the　first　cross…street　his　way　was　blocked　by　the　sight　of　another　sentrythe　world　seemed　composed　en…　tirely　of　Austrian　sentries。　　Barney　wondered　if　the　entire　Austrian　army　was　kept　perpetually　upon　sentry　duty；　he　had　scarce　been　able　to　turn　without　bumping　into　one。

He　turned　back　into　the　alley　and　at　last　found　a　crooked　passageway　between　buildings　that　he　hoped　might　lead　him　to　a　spot　where　there　was　no　sentry；　and　from　which　he　could　find　his　way　out　of　the　village　toward　the　south。　　The　passage；　after　devious　windings；　led　into　a　large；　open　court；　but　when　Barney　attempted　to　leave　the　court　upon　the　opposite　side　he　found　the　ubiquitous　sentries　upon　guard　there。

Evidently　there　would　be　no　escape　while　the　Austrians　remained　in　the　town。　　There　was　nothing　to　do；　therefore；　but　hide　until　the　happy　moment　of　their　departure　arrived。　He　returned　to　the　courtyard；　and　after　a　short　search　dis…　covered　a　shed　in　one　corner　that　had　evidently　been　used　to　stable　a　horse；　for　there　was　straw　at　one　end　of　it　and　a　stall　in　the　other。　　Barney　sat　down　upon　the　straw　to　wait　developments。　　Tired　nature　would　be　denied　no　longer。　　His　eyes　closed；　his　head　drooped　upon　his　breast。　　In　three　minutes　from　the　time　he　entered　the　shed　he　was　stretched　full　length　upon　the　straw；　fast　asleep。

The　chugging　of　a　motor　awakened　him。　　It　was　broad　daylight。　　Many　sounds　came　from　the　courtyard　without。　It　did　not　take　Barney　long　to　gather　his　scattered　witsin　an　instant　he　was　wide　awake。　　He　glanced　about。　　He　was　the　only　occupant　of　the　shed。　　Rising；　he　approached　a　small　window　that　looked　out　upon　the　court。　　All　was　life　and　movement。　　A　dozen　military　cars　either　stood　about　or　moved　in　and　out　of　the　wide　gates　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　enclosure。　　Officers　and　soldiers　moved　briskly　through　a　doorway　that　led　into　a　large　building　that　flanked　the　court　upon　one　side。　　While　Barney　slept　the　headquarters　of　an　Austrian　army　corps　had　moved　in　and　taken　possession　of　the　building；　the　back　of　which　abutted　upon　the　court　where　lay　his　modest　little　shed。

Barney　took　it　all　in　at　a　single　glance；　but　his　eyes　hung　long　and　greedily　upon　the　great；　high…powered　machines　that　chugged　or　purred　about　him。

Gad！　　If　he　could　but　be　behind　the　wheel　of　such　a　car　for　an　hour！　　The　frontier　could　not　be　over　fifty　miles　to　the　south；　of　that　he　was　quite　positive；　and　what　would　fifty　miles　be　to　one　of　those　machines？

Barney　sighed　as　a　great；　gray…painted　car　whizzed　into　the　courtyard　and　pulled　up　before　the　doorway。　　Two　offi…　cers　jumped　out　and　ran　up　the　steps。　　The　driver；　a　young　man　in　a　uniform　not　unlike　that　which　Barney　wore；　drew　the　car　around　to　the　end　of　the　courtyard　close　beside　Barney's　shed。　　Here　he　left　it　and　entered　the　building　into　which　his　passengers　had　gone。　　By　reaching　through　the　window　Barney　could　have　touched　the　fender　of　the　ma…　chine。　　A　few　seconds'　start　in　that　and　it　would　take　more　than　an　Austrian　army　corps　to　stop　him　this　side　of　the　border。　　Thus　mused　Barney；　knowing　already　that　the　mad　scheme　that　had　been　born　within　his　brain　would　be　put　to　action　before　he　was　many　minutes　older。

There　were　many　soldiers　on　guard　about　the　courtyard。　The　greatest　danger　lay　in　arousing　the　suspicions　of　one　of　these　should　he　chance　to　see　Barney　emerge　from　the　shed　and　enter　the　car。

〃The　proper　thing；〃　thought　Barney；　〃is　to　come　from　the　building　into　which　everyone　seems　to　pass；　and　the　only　way　to　be　seen　coming　out　of　it　is　to　get　into　it；　but　how　the　devil　am　I　to　get　into　it？〃

The　longer　he　thought　the　more　convinced　he　became　that　utter　recklessness　and　boldness　would　be　his　only　sal…　vation。　　Briskly　he　walked　from　the　shed　out　into　the　court…　yard　beneath　the　eyes　of　the　sentries；　the　officers；　the　sol…　diers；　and　the　military　drivers。　　He　moved　straight　among　them　toward　the　doorway　of　the　headquarters　as　though　bent　upon　important　businesswhich；　indeed；　he　was。　　At　least　it　was　quite　the　most　important　business　to　Barney　Custer　that　that　young　gentle